Upcoming vacation to Los Angeles any pointers?

bnt83

bnt83

Final Approach
Joined
Dec 31, 2012
Messages
9,980
Location
Lincoln NE
Display Name
Brian
Home Airfield
KLNK
I have never been there and keep in mind I can't walk very far so I use a wheelchair a lot.

Must sees?


I would kill to see LA from the air at night, I might be able to swing an hour of dual in a Cessna 182RG or 210. Worst case, a 182 would do.

We are staying somewhere in Fullerton.

I really want to see Endeavour so the Califonia Science Center is already on my list.


Edit: Probably be there from the 19th thru the 24th.
 
Last edited:
Getty Museum is great, so is the Getty Villa. Griffith Park and the observatory always works. I live in Hollywood, so I'm biased to here. I could give you a list as long as my arm for good places etc. A lunch at the garden in Chateau Marmont always nice, old school drinks at Musso & Frank's Grill (oldest LA restaurant) always works etc. The grocery market at The Grove is a good experience. Make sure you drive Mulholland above Hollywood Hills - it's great view over LA. Or just generally visits the hills as there are some fantastic houses and villas nestled there.

If you're a film buff, I don't recommend the Universal tour as it's a bit too touristy. Do the guided small group tour at Warner Brothers instead - they actually take you into real sets etc.

Downtown is really coming around and there are some great restaurants there, plus it's an experience and filled with interesting architecture if you want the big city feel.

You should at least watch all the crazies at Venice Beach once, and hit Abbot Kinney Blvd for some good food (preferably at Gjelina). There's the outdoor aircraft museum/diner Proud Bird right by LAX, which shouldn't be missed by pilots.

And if you rent aircraft, have a lunch at the diner at Camarillo Airport - it's excellent. And make sure you do the Mini-Route at 2500ft at night above LAX - it's a spectacular ride.
 
Last edited:
stratobee said:
Getty Museum is great, so is the Getty Villa. Griffith Park and the observatory always works. I live in Hollywood, so I'm biased to here. I could give you a list as long as my arm for good places etc. A lunch at the garden in Chateau Marmont always nice, old school drinks at Musso & Frank's Grill (oldest LA restaurant) always works etc. The market at The Grove is a good experience. Make sure you drive Mulholland above Hollywood Hills - it's great view over LA. Or just generally visits the hills as there are some fantastic houses and villas nestled there.

If you're a film buff, I don't recommend the Universal tour as it's a bit too touristy. Do the guided small group tour at Warner Brothers instead - they actually take you into real sets etc.

Downtown is really coming around and there are some great restaurants there, plus it's an experience and filled with interesting architecture if you want the big city feel.

You should at least watch all the crazies at Venice Beach once, and hit Abbot Kinney Blvd for some good food (preferably at Gjelina). There's the outdoor aircraft museum/diner Proud Bird right by LAX, which shouldn't be missed by pilots.

And if you rent aircraft, have a lunch at the diner at Camarillo Airport - it's excellent. And make sure you do the Mini-Route at 2500ft at night above LAX - it's a spectacular ride.
Click to expand...


Excellent! Just the kind of advice I'm looking for.

Thank you!
 
BTW, I think you can rent at Fullerton Airport as well. From there it's just a 10 minute ride to get to the mini-route and LAX. Beats driving in LA.
 
Got time to head up to the museum at Chino? Just throwing it out there. Wicked cool stuff there.
 
denverpilot said:
Got time to head up to the museum at Chino? Just throwing it out there. Wicked cool stuff there.
Click to expand...


IDK what we have time for but I'm thinking about taking a whole week off and getting at least 7 full days in. It looks like there are a pile of free museums and such to visit.

If I rent an airplane that will definitetly pinch the budget, so free is ideal in that case.

Lisa has a lot of friends in San Diego so I imagine we will end up down there too.
 
For air tour, check with ComanchePilot on this forum.
 
I wonder if Open Airplane has any "stations" in LA?
 
bnt83 said:
IDK what we have time for but I'm thinking about taking a whole week off and getting at least 7 full days in. It looks like there are a pile of free museums and such to visit.

If I rent an airplane that will definitetly pinch the budget, so free is ideal in that case.

Lisa has a lot of friends in San Diego so I imagine we will end up down there too.
Click to expand...

If your going to be in San Diego be sure to check out the Air and Space in Balboa Park.
 
Wait. "Los Angeles" and "vacation" were used in the same sentence without a negative qualifier present?
 
I've got a broken tach on the family plane but I don't really give a hoot. My friend got his 177B back so I'm pretty much free.
 
EdFred said:
Wait. "Los Angeles" and "vacation" were used in the same sentence without a negative qualifier present?
Click to expand...

I was wondering that myself.

(EDIT: "I was like, totally, wondering that myself.")
 
Petersen automotive museum is quite nice. They have revolving themes from various eras. While you are there, you can take in the weirdness on Rodeo dr, or go to Grauman's Chinese over on Hollywood. If you like good music, Hollywood bowl is up the street(dress warmly), but has a Brahms project going on which would put me to sleep.

In Sandy Eggo, I like to go down to the ships at the wharf and look around, might be kind of hard to access. Point Loma if it's a very clear day, have lunch on shelter island. Go up and watch hang gliders off Torrey pines glider port. Maybe catch a horse race at Del Mar, and there's some good wineries inland around Escondido and Fallbrook if you like that. Beaches in Jan aren't much good unless you surf, and then they can be great depending on Pacific storms, but I'm guessing you don't surf.
 
Oh, leave yourself three days to get from one part of town to the other due to traffic. So, enjoy your negative one day in LA. :D
 
Last edited:
I can vouch for both the Air and Space museum in Balboa park, there's a pretty great Car/motorcycle museum there as well. Chino's Planes of Fame is a good one too, place called Flo's cafe on the airport has the best cinnamon rolls. Been there more times than I can count (and seen the P-40's they have from the air during filming/recording of Valkyrie). Also some custom building of P-51's going on there at Square One Aviation last time I was down there (few years ago) and got to sit in a real one during my initial flight training there before I changed instructors to the High Desert.

Also there's La Jolla, which is a pretty cool place to go hang around, there's Scripps aquarium in the hills over the ocean as well as a pretty neat but little beach there.
 
John Baker said:
KLAX 021753Z 03004KT 10SM FEW160 SCT220 23/M03 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP191 T02281028 10228 20100 51011 $
Click to expand...

The last time I saw a temp/dewpoint spread like that here, was um, never.
 
Are they Spanish and/or Vietnamese? :D
 
Another idea if you can find the right guide for it...

Anthony Bordain style tour of hole in the wall eating joints...
 
when are you coming out. I wouldn't mind going for a night flight (depending on my schedule) if you don't mind riding in an old stinson. I am 30 miles east of downtown. Right now weather is perfect for night flights been 70-80 during daytime for about a week. Cable (my home airport) is having their airshow Jan 11-12, its always a great show.
 
stratobee said:
Getty Museum is great, so is the Getty Villa. Griffith Park and the observatory always works. I live in Hollywood, so I'm biased to here. I could give you a list as long as my arm for good places etc. A lunch at the garden in Chateau Marmont always nice, old school drinks at Musso & Frank's Grill (oldest LA restaurant) always works etc. The grocery market at The Grove is a good experience. Make sure you drive Mulholland above Hollywood Hills - it's great view over LA. Or just generally visits the hills as there are some fantastic houses and villas nestled there.

If you're a film buff, I don't recommend the Universal tour as it's a bit too touristy. Do the guided small group tour at Warner Brothers instead - they actually take you into real sets etc.

Downtown is really coming around and there are some great restaurants there, plus it's an experience and filled with interesting architecture if you want the big city feel.

You should at least watch all the crazies at Venice Beach once, and hit Abbot Kinney Blvd for some good food (preferably at Gjelina). There's the outdoor aircraft museum/diner Proud Bird right by LAX, which shouldn't be missed by pilots.

And if you rent aircraft, have a lunch at the diner at Camarillo Airport - it's excellent. And make sure you do the Mini-Route at 2500ft at night above LAX - it's a spectacular ride.
Click to expand...

Great advice.....was at CGAS LA for three years and I endorse the night flight 100%
 
GAZOO said:
when are you coming out. I wouldn't mind going for a night flight (depending on my schedule) if you don't mind riding in an old stinson. I am 30 miles east of downtown. Right now weather is perfect for night flights been 70-80 during daytime for about a week. Cable (my home airport) is having their airshow Jan 11-12, its always a great show.
Click to expand...

Good for you! I can't believe it took 33 posts for someone to offer a ride.

(Heck, I think the guy could even annual your plane in return! :) )
 
Sam D said:
Good for you! I can't believe it took 33 posts for someone to offer a ride.

(Heck, I think the guy could even annual your plane in return! :) )
Click to expand...

it just so happens its due this month....lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top